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Rhode Island Questions & Answers
2 Answers | Asked in Civil Rights and Criminal Law for Rhode Island on
Q: Is it excessive force if the police cause me to get stitches
Thomas Briody
Thomas Briody
answered on Oct 27, 2020

It might be. But it’s the details that matter. You need to speak to a lawyer. Call one.

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1 Answer | Asked in Divorce and Real Estate Law for Rhode Island on
Q: My ex wife is in contempt of court for not selling my house when our son graduated as stated in the divorce decree

Will she have to give me the house or sell it and give me the amount of money started that she owes me

Neville Bedford
Neville Bedford
answered on Oct 27, 2020

Talk to your attorney to help prepare and present your motion for relief.

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright for Rhode Island on
Q: Can a foreign rights holder issue a worldwide takedown on content they don’t own in the majority of the world?

Sony Pictures Network India issued a series of YouTube copyright strikes on my YouTube channel, leading to the channel being terminated. My videos contain plenty of NBA content, meaning that I do not own the rights to any of it, and Sony owns NBA broadcasting rights in India (and India only). Yet... View More

Timothy John Billick
Timothy John Billick
answered on Oct 9, 2020

If you are not abiding by YouTube's TOU then they have the ability to shut you down. Also, I'm not sure whether you're correct in Sony's ownership of the NBA IP in the USA. It's possible they own other types of non-broadcasting rights in the NBA IP in the USA that would... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law and Domestic Violence for Rhode Island on
Q: How does my boyfriend get the charges dropped?

Long story short my boyfriends grandmother was harassing and yelling at him to pick up two small stones of concrete. He told her to stop giving an attitude or he was not going to do so. She continued to follow him around the yard, as he opened my car door she then pulled my door back, pushed him... View More

Thomas Briody
Thomas Briody
answered on Sep 30, 2020

Domestic charges are serious and potentially a felony depending on the grandmother’s age. Your boyfriend needs a lawyer. It may be possible to get the charges dropped, but there is no ‘one size fits all’ answer. Please contact and retain an attorney. Don’t try to do this alone. I hope... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Federal Crimes and Real Estate Law for Rhode Island on
Q: If a person has been nominated to be executor of will, steals estate from beneficiary is it criminal.

A prior will has been submitted with different executor. The other nominee has already stolen all property and is trying to sell a house under beneficiary's nose and keep everything. Is this a crime or it it a civil issue?

Thomas Briody
Thomas Briody
answered on Sep 28, 2020

This is a trusts and estates issue. It may be civil in nature, but if you are alleging theft, there may be a criminal element to it. You should find a civil litigator who has experience or knowledge about contesting a will or challenging the distribution of assets from an estate. From the way... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Support for Rhode Island on
Q: I live in RI my ex moved to KS in 2013 when he moved I was able to get the name of the company he was working for I gave

Info to my case worker RI dept Child support. His paychecks were garnished for awhile then he left that job again I tracked down where he got new job gave info to case worker & started getting child support again. Then I took him back to court for no paying Again. The judge upped his support... View More

Neville Bedford
Neville Bedford
answered on Sep 28, 2020

Your attorney may be able to enlist the services of an investigator to find the information you seek. CSE does get employment and intercept information. Good Luck to you and your child(ren)

1 Answer | Asked in Constitutional Law for Rhode Island on
Q: My five year old daughter was expelled from town soccer because we refused to wear a mask

we were outside away from other people

Neville Bedford
Neville Bedford
answered on Sep 28, 2020

Work with your attorney to evaluate, review all the evidence, and the facts and circumstances, to advise you of your rights, and possible remedies surrounding your 5 year old daughter's expulsion, in response to your refusal to comply with mask wearing rules.

1 Answer | Asked in Domestic Violence for Rhode Island on
Q: How do authorities know of no contact order voilations? Is it only if I share the evidence or do they search their phone
Thomas Briody
Thomas Briody
answered on Sep 6, 2020

They know because of a complaint, or a text message, or an email, or because of a witness.... or many other reasons. There is no one answer. If you say there is a violation, that may be enough. If there is a voicemail, the police will want to listen to it. If you have a restraining order... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Rhode Island on
Q: Can I install a camera in my bedroom

I had to move back in with my father and his wife until I can purchase a home. I have fear of his wife as she has verbally assaulted and threatened me numerous times. I installed a security camera in my bedroom for my own piece of mind. She has covered it once and has stated if I do it again she... View More

John  Larochelle
PREMIUM
John Larochelle
answered on Aug 11, 2020

Good afternoon, Fearful of Threats,

Since you are being permitted to live in the house of your father and his wife, it is they and not you who may decided what type of security cameras are permitted in their home. The room where you sleep is their room; they are just letting you sleep...
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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law for Rhode Island on
Q: My husband contact police due to being assulted on home confinement and that was considered as having police involvement

What is going to happen with him and will he stay in jail for this situation that isn't his fault what so ever. Help me please I don't know what to do about it in my own.

Neville Bedford
Neville Bedford
answered on Aug 13, 2020

It is very nice that you obviously love and care about your husband. You should avoid speaking about this matter and encourage him to consult privately and confidentially with his attorney so they may present their best defenses to the court, where the judge will decide the gravitas of this... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Rhode Island on
Q: Case Description Emergency motion question regarding returning daughter to unsafe situation

My daughter has been with me for summer visitation since june14th. I have concerns about her safety with her mother so I haven't returned her to her mother. Today her mother filed an emergency court motion and the judge ordered me to bring her back and gave us a court date of August 18th.... View More

John  Larochelle
PREMIUM
John Larochelle
answered on Jul 24, 2020

You must comply with the court's order. There is no excuse to fail to do so. If you feared so much for you child's safety, you should have filed your own motion, requesting the court to order you not to return your daughter to her mother. If your concern is so great and your daughter is... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law for Rhode Island on
Q: New neighbor leaves one of their two dogs out barking for hours at a time in rural Richmond. What are my rights?
Kristina M. Bergsten
PREMIUM
Kristina M. Bergsten
answered on Jul 23, 2020

You can call animal control or whoever handles animal matters in your area.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Rhode Island on
Q: How do i find out about a power of attorney given by living parents to one child of three? Is it recorded anywhere?

One parent is deceased and the others won't answer questions about the document. How do we find out what it covers as a child of the parents?

Nina Whitehurst
PREMIUM
Nina Whitehurst pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Jul 16, 2020

Powers of attorney are sometimes recorded in the local land records, but more often than not they are not. The obvious answer is to ask the living parents and/or the child to whom the power of attorney was given.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Rhode Island on
Q: can a minors legal guardian keep custody over biological father in court

if so what type of information should be brought to court proceedings to help keep minor child with legal guardian

Neville Bedford
Neville Bedford
answered on Jul 14, 2020

If a Guardian has been appointed. The father will be well advised to work with their attorney to present evidence of a significant change in circumstances to support a proposed modification of the arrangement, along with supporting evidence significant enough to meet their burden to show that it is... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Rhode Island on
Q: I can not find a lawyer to help me any further
Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jul 20, 2020

There's a section here on this site for finding lawyers. See the tab above to the left (Find a Lawyer). In addition to your own independent online searches, the Rhode Island Bar Association has resources for finding lawyers. Good luck

Tim Akpinar

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody for Rhode Island on
Q: I’m 17 in Rhode Island and my parents are separated if I really wanted to could I be emancipated I will be 18 nov 1st

I live with my mother but I’m very unhappy and we constantly fight and I’m constantly being made to feel like an object and my father has 3 kids and is working very often meaning he’s never home so my step mom takes care of all of them meaning I can’t live with him and I don’t have any... View More

Neville Bedford
Neville Bedford
answered on Jul 6, 2020

Once you have graduated from High School and attained the age of 18, you are legally considered emancipated. At $200 per week, you will likely need to find housing that costs you less that $350 per month.

Start saving your money for a deposit on your new place and good luck to you.

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Rhode Island on
Q: Can a lawyer lie about the date of an incident and suspend my license? The accident was 4 years ago.

The dmv adjudication states the incident was from 2019 when the accident was 2016 i have offered to make payments twice and they wont accept it without all of my financial history. I feel uncomfortable giving this information and also on some of the documents they have sent it has my name... View More

Neville Bedford
Neville Bedford
answered on Jul 6, 2020

Your attorney should not lie to you and should advocate for your best interests. It sounds like you need some professional representation and assistance to understand what rights, obligations, and responsibilities you may have. I would recommend you meet with, and retain your own advocate to assist... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Municipal Law for Rhode Island on
Q: I am retiring on July 10, 2020. The municipal budget will be voted upon on July 18, 2020, postponed due to the COVID-19,

the coronavirus. Usually this meeting is held in May. In the budget is a 2% raise for employees, and I would have retired based on that pay rate/scale. If it is passed, am I eligible for that pay rate to retire on, and am i eligible for retroactive pay dating back to the beginning of the fiscal... View More

Neville Bedford
Neville Bedford
answered on Jul 6, 2020

Congratulations on your coming retirement. Gather your plan documents and make an appointment with your attorney to review those plan particulars. If the budget is enacted retroactively, I would assume that would answer your question.

1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law for Rhode Island on
Q: If my dogs get into a fight in my yard can animal control get involved if my neighbor called the police not me
Neville Bedford
Neville Bedford
answered on Jul 6, 2020

Depending on who, or what, your dog was fighting with, one possible answer is yes. If animal control has filed a citation against you, meet with an attorney to explore all of your options.

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Civil Litigation for Rhode Island on
Q: Is it legal to have a Shared utility only wired to my meter? This has never been disclosed to me by the landlord.

My electric bill is triple my neighbors. I have lived here for 5 years. My landlord has never mentioned that I pay for a shared utility. This has just come to light when I had an electrician come check to see why my electric bill was so high. Upon further examination a plumber became involved... View More

Neville Bedford
Neville Bedford
answered on Jul 6, 2020

It is unclear what expense is shared, and what is due to the leak. If the pump is not yours, you may have a case of theft of utilities against the person who wired it on your service. This may require more investigation and perhaps professional legal representation. Once you have all of the... View More

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